Alicia:

Hello and welcome to the Soul of a Leader podcast where we ignite soulful conversations with leaders. On today’s episode, Dr. Alicia and Dr. Eileen sit with founder of Raby Institute of Integrative Medicine at Northwestern university, Dr. Theri Raby, to discuss leading with your soul and creating your dream come true.

 

Eileen:

Hello and welcome to Soul of a Leader podcast where we share inspirational leadership stories about ordinary people with extraordinary impact. Dr. Raby is an educator, mentor, and a visionary for integrative medical practices in both Chicago and nationwide. Over the course of her professional and personal development, she has cultivated a deep understanding of the effective blending of Western medicine with traditional holistic modalities. Dr. Raby’s journey as an integrative physician began in childhood. She was born and raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and was inspired at an early age by an innate curiosity and enculturated training in herbal remedy, prayer and holistic healing; as practiced by the First Nations of Mexico and southwestern United States.

 

Eileen:

Her work as a community health educator after college deepened her appreciation for the holistic approaches and helped her to realize her passion for healing and desire to step into a more central role in the medical field. Dr. Terry Raby is a board certified internal medicine practitioner and is also certified in integrative medicine through the American Board of Holistic Medicines. She is a member of the American Medical Association, the American College of Physicians, and the Institute for Functional Medicine. In March, of 2009, Dr. Raby was invited by the founders of IFM, Dr. Jeffrey Bland and Dr. Mark Hyman to participate in a national forum of integrative medicine physicians focused on advocating for the increased role of functional medicine in traditional healthcare settings. Please welcome Dr. Terry Raby to our podcast, Soul of a Leader. Thank you so much for joining us.

 

Alicia:

Welcome Dr. Raby to Soul of a Leader podcast. How are you today?

 

Dr. Raby:

I’m great. Thank you for the invitation. I really look forward to sharing.

 

Alicia:

Well, today we want to get into a good conversation with you and learn a little more about what you do, and how do you lead with your soul in your day to day operations at your office?

 

Dr. Raby:

Well, that’s a big question. I think that through the years it’s taken a lot of my internal work to really have that self-realization, that self-connection, and that inner strength to get to where I am today. To really fully and completely share my full self, in order to find the purest form of my soul to share with others. And I think it’s all about a journey. And yes, I am Western medicine trained in trauma, as a physician here in Chicago, and I went to a rigorous training, which I really loved, and it was very straight and narrow, and I loved what I do. I continue to love what I do. And I went straight from my internship residency, and I was a chief resident. And then I went into a hospital setting employee and started practicing integrated internal medicine and just had this realization that I wanted to do things a little different, and I just really wanted to tap into ensuring that I was tapping into the whole person.

 

Dr. Raby:

I just felt that was something that was very lacking in the way we’re trained in Western medicine. So, I was lucky enough to connect with some great people here at Northwestern who were trying to really lent their ear, and heard me, and allowed me to do some of the things that I was very passionate about, and so far as creating an integrative internal medicine practice at Northwestern. And I did that for 13 years, and when you’re in a big huge hospital, you fall into various practices, it just becomes part of the corporate culture. And as I went through that process for 13 years in the hospital, it was an awakening about how we are guided through a corporate process in a hospital, but still being allowed to create there as well. And so, just learning through that process on my own, there was so many things that I realized that I wanted to do differently.

 

Dr. Raby:

And so I took upon myself to take a big, huge leap, and create my own integrative institute here in Chicago, still affiliated with Northwestern. Meaning that, yes, I admit to the hospital, I still teach at the hospital, but I am in private practice here at Chicago, right down the street from the hospital, and I’m kind of doing my own thing. And then through all that I just realized how I wanted to treat people as my patients, as my employees, and just how I wanted to connect with the community differently. And so, even in that, as a business person, and a physician, I just felt that I just needed to explore what that meant for me. So, one of some real simple things is just how I interfaced with my employees, and who I hired, and some real non-starter things that I felt like happened in the most corporate institutions is some real simple things like, “Oh when you start with me, you’re going to be on probation for so many months before you get insurance, or before you can say you’re a full employee.”

 

Dr. Raby:

Some of just the terminology, and some of the restrictions just about being an employee were non-starters for me. And so I just wanted to change a lot of that essence around how you bring people in to create a team, and to create a team that’s filled with inspiration, and inner strength, and love, and understanding how we’re going to really take some people that are hurting at so many different levels, and how are we going to really care for them, and truly care for the people when we really have to create this team of people at every level from the organizations, to the operations, to how you pay somebody, and how you honor somebody as an employee. That all has to happen first to become a true healer. And everybody that’s employed here, whether you’re the front desk person or it could be anyone, in the call center answering phones, whether you’re the person who’s drawing blood, or you’re the person in the front actually caring directly for patients. We all take responsibility for really aligning ourselves to really dive into the divine, and the love of each person that really walks into the space.

 

Eileen:

Well, and that goes with the energy of the soul. We believe that the energy of soul has no color, and we’re all connected by that energy. And when I heard you say was that there was an awakening and guided process from within, an energy that was pulling you to this, to really live your most authentic life. And the question I have and I heard was, you saw something, you made a change, and then you even hired others to be challenging, to be their best, and shepherding and guiding them. My question is how was it, how hard, or how… What should I say? If there was static, or roadblocks, or bumps on when you were saying what your heart was telling your head, and what your head was telling your heart, and that conflicting to come up and make this dream come true.

 

Dr. Raby:

Yeah. You’re right. I mean, we’re all constantly battling our head and our heart. There is a business component to this as well, and sometimes when you’re full in that business component, there is a lot of straight and narrow, more black and white things, and it’s about that fine balance and understanding, yes, this is a business. And I do have to pay my employees, and I do have to pay rent, and I do have to pay for my EMR, my electric, and my computer system, and my IT people, and all the vendors outside of my business that has to operate my business. So, it’s a very fine balance. And when I say my team, it’s really about my immediate team, and how I really nurture them and create processes for them to continue to grow.

 

Dr. Raby:

But it’s also about choosing your vendors and ensuring that your vendors out there are somewhat aligned with you. And so, I think it’s hard, it’s a bump, and I’m the first to say that I’ve had a lot of learning issues through the last 12 years that I’ve been in private practice because it is. Even though what I envision, and what I feel in my heart sometimes doesn’t completely fall into alignment. But working through those various struggles also is growth, and also is part of the connecting to your higher self. And if I can look at those struggles as part of my journey, then it’s all good.

 

Alicia:

Oh absolutely. I agree with you. I’m nodding my head here with Dr. Eileen and I’m saying, “Yes.” Struggles are infinite for business. You mentioned a lot of key points. There’s a real side to business. And so, my question back to you is when we talk about the real side of business and some of those struggles, can you think of one moment that was a very challenging moment in business where you had to make a very good decision, or a tough decision because you were leading from within, you realize this is a real business atmosphere but this is a struggle, and so you had to make some type of difficult decision.

 

Dr. Raby:

So, you want me to give you an example of when I had to make a business decision?

 

Alicia:

Yes.

 

Dr. Raby:

Yeah. I mean, I think one of the hardest things has been a decision where I’ve had employees that push came to shove, they weren’t the right fit. And the thing is really working to try to deeply understand why that’s not a fit, and working through your own judgments, and your emotions and your reactions to certain situations, and realizing that you’re having those emotional situations, those emotional reactions, and being able to hold onto them, and take a couple of days, or a couple of hours. Sometimes it takes days, sometimes it takes hours to really self-reflect, on how am I responding to this, and why am I responding to this? And also being sensitive to what made this other person be feeling what’s going on in their lives? How can I reflect and be walking in their shoes for a little bit.

 

Dr. Raby:

And if something doesn’t work out, being sensitive of how you allow people to land on their feet, and ensuring that you have the right people on board. I’ve had to have situations where I’ve had to have lawyers on board, and ensuring that those lawyers heard my being compassionate and making sure that I am being a compassionate person when I’m having to go through these very difficult situations. And it comes back to being true to yourself, and being empowered by your decisions that are clear to you. And part of it’s even that intuit. I feel like that is our intuition, many times I feel like, oh.

 

Dr. Raby:

Especially when you’re interviewing people and you feel like, oh God, yes, this is the right person. I just don’t believe it, but it’s that intuit and just being true to that. Why is this the right person? We’re just energetically connecting and we feel like it’s right, and then doing your due diligence after that. But going back to your initial question, yes. Those situations regarding, the toughest for me is really when you have to release an employee that has maybe not been the most ideal fit for a variety of reasons, and then having to let them go. But the biggest thing is making it as respectful as you possibly can when you’re making that separation.

 

Eileen:

Absolutely, I mean both Alicia and I are in HR, and in my career as a global HR professional that has occurred, and I always, always, dignity and respect, putting yourself in their shoes and exiting as much as you can. And it takes courage to do that. It takes courage to give the feedback. It takes courage to act on this. Because in the end, sometimes the employee does come back and say, “Oh, it was a blessing,” or “It was a lesson.” I always think things are blessings or lessons, and they’re being challenged just as hard if it’s not a good cultural fit, as the business person. So, that is really leading authentically by making the decision for the whole, and also it could be better for the person too, because they may land in a place where they’ll thrive and move on.

 

Dr. Raby:

Yeah. I think it’s also really important, and once those things have transpired, it’s not even just around that situation, but other little small situations that happen I think within the personnel, or even with patients, is being able to let go of past hurts, and realize the power of forgiveness. It is such a beautiful thing when you can really let it go, but really let it go, and really forgive, and be able to say it to one another whether it’s my patients, or one of my employees, or somebody who’s walking out the door. And that’s a huge thing too, I think for all of us to be able to realize that we can get past some trials, and tribulations, and past hurts and forgive.

 

Eileen:

I’ve done a TEDx on forgiveness, and it means so much. Forgiving is a lower energy, and if you hold onto whatever, if you’ve been hurt, harmed, or not asked for forgiveness, you have the initial hurt and then you have the holding onto it. It’s the energy that’s holding you back too from moving forward. So I absolutely agree with you on that.

 

Dr. Raby:

Oh great. Yeah, I do too. That’s awesome.

 

Alicia:

So, a lot of the points that you brought out, Dr. Raby were excellent, and I have one point that’s in my mind and you talked about balance, and you have so many things going on, and you create, and your passion is there. So how do you create a sense of balance for you and your team?

 

Dr. Raby:

I think the most important thing is being an example. So I feel that I personally throughout my life, primarily I think in my late teens to today is doing the work. Is being a daughter, a sister, a friend, a wife, a mother, a doctor where I lead with love. And I think that is something that I feel like innately, it’s always been a part of me. I mean, as I really sit back and think about who I am as a person, and I didn’t feel that I really truly honored that as I was maybe going through schooling, my initial position as a physician, but in hindsight I’ve always been that way. I’ve always been the fun one, and I’ve always wanted to hold and hug people. I’m a very tactile person. I am always about caring, and giving, and wanting to make people feel good and make people feel cared for.

 

Dr. Raby:

I just feel like innately, I feel that I lead with love, and I see that with my employees. I am the boss, so to speak, but I try to make connections with every single one of my employees. But personal connections, and making sure that people know that I care deeply for them. And I feel like they’re my children, my family and I care for them, and we do things together, and I make sure that I honor them in a variety of ways. I honor them by having fun outings with them, and bringing beautiful food here to the office to feed them, and to offer them things, and give them things, and take trips together. And I do that. I really do. I’ve taken my entire staff to New Mexico where for my 10 year anniversary here at the Raby Institute.

 

Dr. Raby:

I took my entire staff, 40 people to New Mexico where I’m from, so they could learn more about me, and how the way I practice is a huge part of the way I was reared culturally. And that was all paid for. I flew them there, and it was three nights there, took them to Santa Fe through all the cultural things we do. So, those are things that are really important for me is to give of myself, not just by offering somebody a job and paying for their health insurance, and paying them good salaries, and a beautiful space to work in, which is also part of things that I do, but it’s also to the truly giving of myself. It’s about sharing in this process and really sharing in the benefits that we get from serving the people that we serve.

 

Eileen:

Well, in that, leading with love, we need that more now than ever.

 

Alicia:

Oh, absolutely.

 

Eileen:

And that’s what Soul of a Leader is about, it’s leading with the authentic. And you said a beautiful space, food, celebrating your team together. It’s the whole of what you’re doing, and that obviously translates into your business and how you treat the patients, and the clients, and the vendors. And you’re giving, you’re giving of yourself. Then, how do you, because you’re giving so much, and I personally know Dr. Raby, so I know. I’m a patient there, it’s wonderful how you do that. And the question is how do you nourish yourself to make sure you keep that balance? You can lead with love, and you have self-love, and you’ve found authentic, and you take care of yourself, but how do you make sure there’s a balance between giving and receiving in this world, to make sure you’re healthy.

 

Dr. Raby:

Keep going.

 

Eileen:

Yeah. That’s right.

 

Dr. Raby:

Yeah. So, that’s one of the things that I think that we constantly talk about when I’m interfacing with patients is really what are your stressors, and how are you coping? What are you doing to deeply care for yourself? So, really important that I’m able to share what I do for me because I cannot be in that room with patients, and being truly connected with them, without me taking care of myself. That gives a whole story when you’re on this plane, you need oxygen, oxygens masks come down, you have to give yourself oxygen first before you give it to the child. Same thing. I really felt that I have to deeply care for me in order for me to be in the moment and present with every person that’s there.

 

Dr. Raby:

So, I do some very simple things, very simple things. That I find that it’s soothing for me, and I just share with people that the way we connect with ourselves, and deeply care for ourselves, and reach out with these coping mechanisms is very individualized. And so, I’m always asking people to really explore what that means for them individually. But for me, some real simple things. My sleep is really, really important. I’m a Sergeant about sleep. So, I really try to get a good eight to nine hours of sleep, but I get into bed around 8:30, 9:00 o’clock, and I’m usually out by 9:30 ish. And so getting my solid sleep really helps me regenerate, and allows me to be in the moment with everybody that I interface with the next day. Even if it’s on my day off. It’s the end, it’s about being in the moment with everything that I do with patients, without patients, when I’m at the movies, or when I’m in yoga, or whatever.

 

Dr. Raby:

But the other thing too is things that are very ceremonial for me that I do on a daily basis, real simple stuff though. Simple things like I get up first thing in the morning, and I drink my green tea. And so it’s green tea, and I always talk, as Eileen will know, about why green tea. It’s so important that I drink four to six cups of green tea before I even get to work, which is my nourishment. There’s so many things inside green tea that supports me. But it’s very ceremonial when I do that. I mean, it’s a ritual. I get my little tea bag, and I put my little loose tea in there, and have my special cup, and I sit in my special chair, and the house is quiet, and it’s just me. And I prep myself for my day. I want to have-

 

Eileen:

Is it the nice genmaicha tea with the roasted rice in it that I always get?

 

Dr. Raby:

Yes exactly. And that, and even just my ceremony when I get ready in the morning. I mean you guys may haven’t met me, but Eileen has, but one of the things is when I shower, and putting my lotions on my face, and when I get dressed, it’s very ceremonial, how I get dressed and what I’d wear to work every day. People tell me, “Wow, where are you going today?” I say, “I’m coming to see you.” It’s real ceremonial, how I dress, what I put on, what earrings I put on, what ring I put on, what socks or shoes I put on. And it is. And ironically, it’s been that way since I was a little girl.

 

Eileen:

The shoes-

 

Dr. Raby:

And it’s something very special and meaningful to me, and it helps me identify with me, and I feel good about me, and it just helps me. So those things are really important. But the other thing is too, is I do lots of yoga. I mean, four to six times a week, I do yoga. I walk in nature, I meditate, I eat healthy, I take nutrients, I travel, spend a lot of time with family is really important to me, and just being around nice, good people.

 

Eileen:

Yeah. Because you absorb your environment. If you’re around good people who don’t complain, that’s great. You’re around people who are energetic… And I have to comment though, on the shoes. The shoes are great. So, every time I see Dr. Raby I go, look at those shoes.

 

Dr. Raby:

I’m a shoe person. It’s so funny. I have a husband and wife that are my patients, and every time he comes in he has take picture of my shoes, and their friends, she comes and they take pictures of my shoes. I’ve even had people post my shoes on Facebook. “This is my doctor.” It’s hilarious. Shoes is one of the things I’m really crazy about, but they’re like crazy shoes. They’re like fun-

 

Alicia:

Fun stuff. Fist of energy of you Dr. Raby.

 

Eileen:

It’s so unique.

 

Alicia:

Well, Dr. Raby, we certainly enjoyed everything. So, we have just a question. Can you leave us with some words of wisdom?

 

Dr. Raby:

Leave with some words of wisdom?

 

Eileen:

Yes. For our listeners, and for us on how to lead with the soul. Go ahead.

 

Dr. Raby:

I think just as a leader in this environment these days, and just trying to lead with your soul, I think it’s really important to meet people where they are. I am constantly interfacing with people that are different stages of their life, just different spaces of where they are, and so many different levels spiritually, emotionally, psychologically, physically, biochemically, energetically. But every time you walk in that door, I am meeting them where they are. But my goal is to really empower people. Empower them to really create their sacred spaces, to deeply share in their healing process. And just really ensuring that whether that’s my patient, my employees, my friends, my colleagues, my family, all of it is about just meeting them where they’re at, having clear, clean conversations, creating clean relationships and just ensuring that we’re just again, leading with love, and making sure that we’re really deeply caring for each other, respecting each other, and are filled with gratitude.

 

Eileen:

Wow. That is wonderful.

 

Alicia:

Yes.

 

Eileen:

Wonderful. I love all those words of wisdom. They’ve hit so much. You have the sacred space, meeting with everybody. This has just been wonderful that we’ve talked to you.

 

Alicia:

Amazing.

 

Eileen:

We’re grateful. We are grateful to have you.

 

Dr. Raby:

Well you are doing some beautiful work, and I want to thank you for what you’re doing. And the more that we share these messages, we continue to create community that can really deeply care for each other. And we need each other more now than ever.

 

Alicia:

Yes.

 

Eileen:

And we’re all connected. So, I mean-

 

Dr. Raby:

We are.

 

Eileen:

… we are so grateful with your wisdom, and your energy, and all your wonderful ideas, and we are so happy where you’re at, at the Raby Institute at Northwestern, and your dream has come through there.

 

Alicia:

Absolutely.

 

Eileen:

So, thank you so much for being part of our show.

 

Dr. Raby:

Thank you. I appreciate it. Thanks again. I appreciate it.

 

Eileen:

All right.

 

Alicia:

Thank you, Dr. Raby.

 

Eileen:

Thank you for joining us on Soul of a Leader podcast. We are igniting a new way of leading with your soul, and interviewing ordinary people with extraordinary impact. Thank you for listening to the stories of our leaders who will help and guide you on your leadership journey. For more information on our podcast, please visit our website at soulofaleader.com. Thank you for listening.